When I closed this book, I can honestly say that words failed me entirely. I had hot tears running down my face and all I wanted to do was run upstairs and cuddle my two sleeping babies; hold them tight and deeply inhale their scent.

This book tackles the cruelty of cancer and how cancer does not discriminate. I love the idea of writing letters to those you most cherish and imparting love and crucial knowledge to them. There was a powerful rawness to the narrative; heightened by a cacophony of emotions: love, anger and sadness, all swirled together and shaped the lives of those affected by the disease.

I adore Pearson’s style of writing; it is brutally honest and painfully lucid yet effortlessly beautiful. I read with a knot in my stomach and a tight twist in my heart, and felt myself sinking deeper with every page; my chest tightening at the injustice of it all.

Make no mistake here; I Wanted You To Know is totally devastating and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t upset me; it is impossibly sad yet it is also quietly brilliant. This is a remarkable story of piercing bravery and forceful solidarity; a love letter to family and friendship; a heartfelt, emotional, yet frank and honest account which one could be forgiven for thinking is non-fiction.

I Wanted You To Know is heart-achingly beautiful; a real triumph of a novel which despite its melancholy, will stay with me for a long time.

I found this book very moving and it brought me to tears on several occasions. At times it was difficult to read as I lost my father to cancer and he did not get the chance to say his goodbyes which in some ways was a good thing and in others leaves you with regret.

Although the subject matter does sound depressing, young Mum gets cancer has to get her life in order before she loses her battle but it also tells the tale of getting people together and getting through things. Would recommend it to friends and family.

This was a beautifully written book detailing how a young, single mother, Jessica (Jess) deals with a terminal cancer diagnosis. From the way she handles her relationships with her loved ones to the letters that she writes to her baby daughter, Edie, Jess deals with her cancer with grace. Through it all, her biggest regret is missing seeing her daughter grow up and not being there for her. She wants to insure that Edie is surrounded by a strong support system of others that love her.

This subject matter is heartbreaking but even through the tears I was crying, I felt the positivity in the message Ms. Pearson is trying to convey. I walk away from this story knowing that you cannot waste a minute because you don't know how much time you truly have. Also, you have to give those you love every opportunity to prove themselves to you. Misunderstandings truly do happen and for those to come between you and those you love and steal precious time is a tragedy. Jessica's journey with cancer is not an easy one to read, but it is well worth the tears. I, personally, struggled with how Jess chose to handle things at the end, but I admired her spirit and her desire that her daughter be well-loved or "floogled." (You'll have to read it to appreciate where floogle comes from.)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I Wanted You To Know is one of those few books that I had no problem rating whatsoever. It’s a solid 5/5 stars for me. This book goes all in with portraying the unconditional love a mother can have for her child, especially in the face of death, and I cried at how emotional it was. As far as I know there’s no one in my family that has or has had cancer, but I was really hit hard in the heart by this book with Jess’ cancer. I loved her, Edie, and Gemma, and I thought of my own mom as I read this. While I loved this book though, it’s definitely not one I’d reread because I know I’d cry all over again. But I’m thankful to have read it and am reminded once again to really appreciate everything my mom has done for me throughout my life.

I’d recommend this book to everyone!

Jess is young, too young to have such a horrible diagnosis. Even worse, she is the single mother to a tiny new daughter, Edie. This lovely novel comprises letters Jess writes to Edie so that she'll know her mother as well as Jess's journey. This is familiar ground but Pearson has done a nice job of imbuing it with emotion. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

If you are looking for a book that will break your heart and make you ugly cry then this is it. You know from the beginning how it will end but it doesn't lessen the hurt.

It is a well written compassionate read that will stay with me for a long time.

An emotional read, do not approach lightly and definitely bring tissues, but worth every tear shed. Poignant, beautifully written, moving and just heartbreaking but uplifting too. A powerful and emotive read, thoroughly recommended

This is the third book I have read by this author now and she has done another brilliant job by writing such a heart-breaking and heart-warming story – it is a beautiful story to read!

I loved the characters and Laura has a brilliant way with words, her books are addictive and you do not want to put them down. In this one she has a set of characters that are so well developed I began to feel as though they were friends and really wished I could give them a hug and share in their emotions.

This will definitely be up there with my books of the year, I loved it from cover to cover and felt it was a book that touched my heart and will stay with me for a long time to come – 5 stars from me, very, very highly recommended

This book broke me. It reached into my heart and soul and took my breath away, making me cry a river of tears along the way. As soon as I read the raw and powerful opening letter from the author to the reader, I was already needing tissues and knew I was in for an emotional ride.

What would you want your child to know if you found out you weren’t going to be there as they grew up? That is the heartbreaking question addressed in this mesmerising and poignant novel.

Twenty-one-year-old Jess is getting to grips with being a single mum to baby Edie when the rug is pulled from under her and she’s told she has breast cancer. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she’d be facing a fight for her life so young or so soon after becoming a mother. What will happen to Edie? What about all the things she wanted her to know? So, she decides to write to her daughter. Beginning each letter with the words “Dear Edie, I wanted you to know…” she imparts the wisdom she thinks her daughter will need about life and love, while also telling her who her mother was so she will have a chance to know her even after she’s gone. Jess is open and honest in these letters, never shying away from her own flaws and mistakes and sharing her fears about having cancer.

As well as these letters, we follow Jess from the day of her diagnosis, her attempt to come to terms with the awful news, her fight against the disease, and her relationships with those closest to her. I don't want to say too much about what happens on that journey as part of the beauty of this book was discovering that.]

I loved the author’s decision to blend prose and letters as it made this book all the more moving by helping me connect with Jess’s character on a deeper level. Jess was real to me and I was completely invested in her story. As a mother, I couldn't help putting myself in her place and my children in Edie's, and this was not only devastating, but gave me an admiration for the strength she possesses and dignity with which she carries herself. But I also liked that she had many layers and flaws, which only endeared her to me. I felt quite maternal towards Jess and while writing this I realise I’m probably about the age her mother is in the story, so that makes sense. I wanted to reach through the pages to comfort her and tell her how amazing she is and spent the whole book hoping for a happy ending for this young girl.

This isn't a book that shouts from the rooftops and makes your heart race. It is one that has a more soft and subtle allure and draws you in with the feeling that radiates from its pages. I anticipated an emotional novel but I was not expecting to be so moved that I had to read the last part of it with tears streaming down my cheeks or feel so ravaged when the story ended.

What I want you to know is that I highly recommend this book. Just make sure to have the tissues handy and be prepared for possibly finding a new must read author - just like I have.

Finally, I want to address the author herself: Laura, I am in awe of your bravery and strength in writing this novel. You are an exceptional writer and inspirational woman. You not only conveyed Jess’s feelings so acutely that they lept off the page, but you did the same with every single character. The pain, grief, anger and regret was palpable and made me a wreck as I read it. I will never forget this story or the way it made me feel. Thank you for writing it and sharing it with the world.

Thank you to Agora Books and NetGalley for my copy of this book.

An amazing - yet again Laura Pearson has made me cry buckets at this story, an incredibly poignant look at motherhood with breast cancer & what can you leave your child if you know you're going to die. I loved it as much as I have loved her other books and an in awe of how she makes the reader invest so fully in the story it feels like they have experienced an actual bereavement by the end of the book. Bravo.

Jess is a new mother to Edie and a single mom. She is 21 years old. When she finds a lump in her breast she thinks it is just something from breastfeeding. But unfortunately it isn't. Jess has to face that she might not be here for Edie. She starts writing Edie letters explaining life to her. This book is ultimately a mother's love story to her daughter. It is raw, heartbreaking, and honest. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

I firstly want to thank Agora Books and Laura for allowing me the opportunity to be on the blog tour for this book.

Where do I start to review this book? There aren’t many books out there that can bring me to actual tears, however, I Wanted You To Know by Laura Pearson turned little ole me into an emotional snivelling tear stained woman. I had to stop reading and take a break on numerous occasions because the tears were just too much.

The story revolves around 21 year old Jessica. She is bringing up Edie, her 4 month old daughter alone, the reasons unfold throughout the story. And, she has also been diagnosed with breast cancer.

What follows is an emotionally charged story of Jessica’s journey. Told through the eyes of Jessica and also through the format of letters to her daughter.

We live in an age now where cancer seems to be all around. I’m sure you have had personal experience with the awful disease, whether you’ve had cancer yourself, or know of family, friends or colleagues who have had it. You may have lost loved ones to the disease.

Myself, I have lost a few close family members to cancer, I have also got cancer survivors in my family. A couple of years back I lost a very close friend of mine to cancer, she was only young and she left behind a family. Cancer sucks big time.

Because of all the personal experience that is why I felt more emotionally attached to the story. I could relate easily to what the characters were going through and the emotions they were dealing with.

Laura herself has dealt with breast cancer it comes across through the book, it is written from the heart. This truly is a life-affirming story.

I loved all the different relationships within the story and how each went through its own journey. We have mother/daughter relationships. I was raised by a single mother, so I could relate a lot to Jessica and her mother’s relationship.

I fell in love with Gemma, the fierce and loyal friend. Strong throughout it was a beautiful friendship and even thinking of it now it’s bringing tears to my eyes.

I wanted you to know that this story may be a tear-jerker, a heart-rending story. It may bring back memories of experiences you have had with cancer. But, above all this story is about learning to love and treasure what we have and live each moment to it’s fullest.

Imagine becoming a new mom at the age of 21 and finding out you have breast cancer. Imagine sitting down in a doctor’s office with your infant in a car seat near your feet when you receive this devastating news.

Jess has just become a mom to a beautiful little girl named Edie. Edie’s father, Jake isn’t in the picture, he is off touring with his band. Jess never imagined she would be a single mom living with her own mom, and she also never imagined she’d be facing a cancer diagnosis. Her only support comes from her mom and her best friend Gemma.

Jess is now having to make some tough decisions about her daughter’s future that she knows she may not be a part of. She begins writing Edie letters of things she wants her to know- how she met her dad, how to find a friend like Gemma, how to navigate love and loss all while sharing stories about her first love, stories about her grandma and expressing how much she loves her little girl. She wants to tell her everything- as she prepares to say goodbye to everyone around her.

This book is heartbreaking yet beautiful. It is definitely an emotional read- you will sob. And even though this was probably one of the saddest books I’ve ever read- it is also an incredible story of the strength and courage women have when battling cancer. After reading it, I took some time to reflect on how often we take things for granted- our health, our homes, our family and our friends. I definitely gave my boys some extra squeezes last night through tears.

Thank you Netgalley and @agorabooks for this advance reading copy. This book will be published October 3, 2019 during breast cancer awareness month. I highly recommend it to all!

[THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS]

It's not often that you'll find me crying at a book. But I sobbed my way through this one. I read this on my Kindle but, if I had a physical copy, it would be covered in mascara-filled tear stains. It was heart-wrenching. Having lost someone to cancer, I Wanted You To Know hit home in ways I could never expect. To see the aftershocks of death from the perspective of the sufferer is a point of view we've all been missing. We wonder how we're going to go on without this person, but we don't take into consideration that we can go on while they can't.

Our main character, Jess, is told she has terminal breast cancer. Having only recently had a baby, of course, everything is thrown up in the air. She has to deal with the knowledge that her baby might not remember her, that her baby will grow up without her mother, that Jess herself won't see her baby reach her first birthday. While we tend to think of the larger ramifications of death, it's these little details that pull at the heartstrings. It's the small things, like the fact that she can't breastfeed her daughter because of the chemicals from chemotherapy; she can't hold her daughter too often in her final days because she's so weak.

Laura Pearson's writing is so powerful. Though it reads basic in format, the underlying meaning screams at you through every word. She manages to express so much in so little, a feat many established authors still struggle with. You can see how everyone is affected by her illness: her best friend knowing she'll have to play a more maternal role in Edie's life; Edie's father being thrown into the deep end with paternal duties; Jess' mother dealing with losing her only child at the young age of 22.

When you take into consideration the author's note at the start of the book, the whole thing becomes even more heartbreaking. To know that Pearson herself struggled through these thoughts is beyond comprehension for me. To know that all these thoughts and feelings were pretty much real.

Just as a final note, I want you all to use the hashtag #IWantedYouToKnow on Twitter and tell the world exactly what you want them to know.

I wanted you to know that this book broke my heart.

This is my first book by Laura Pearson, but it won't be my last. I will definitely look up her two previous books.
This is a brilliant, raw & heartbreaking story! Grab a box or two of Kleenex, I promise you will need them!!

A young, single mother, Jess never imagined she’d be navigating motherhood & facing breast cancer. Jess wants to let her daughter know all the things a girl should learn from her mother. She does this by writing letters to her baby girl in hopes they will one day show her daughter how much she loves her & wants the best life for her.

I recommend this book to all. You will certainly reflect on your own life when reading this!

I don’t think it has ever taken me 12 days to read a book I was enjoying...but this book did. I cried so many times that I had to pick and choose when would be an appropriate time to read through tears. Beautifully written and exceptionally heartbreaking.

Thank you NetGalley and Agora books for providing me this beautiful and emotional read in exchange for my honest review.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley!

This book is going to hit you in the feels. over and over again. Don't take that lightly.

Jess is a strong, brave, empowering woman. I have no idea if i would have been that strong if i lived what she went through.

The author is clearly talented.
I can't wait to read more by her!

This book needs to come with a warning. Do not read in a public place or without tissues to hand. I personally was an emotional wreck.
Beautifully written to express a mothers love for her young daughter. Her hopes, her wishes and her regrets.

Jess has just given birth to her daughter Edie at 21 years of ages. In the early days of breast feeding she discovers a lump, which turns out to be terminal cancer. Jess must come to terms with her own impending death and the effects it will have on those closest to her. Her mother Caroline, her best friend Gemma and her ex boyfriend Jake. But most importantly Edie. Told as a story but with letters Jess has written to Edie, interspaced.

This is a powerful book of love and friendship.

This was such an emotional book you definitely need the tissues ready. The main character stood up to cancer so very bravely and always acted so selfless and wanted to make sure the others around her were okay. It definitely gives you an eye opening appreciation for life, it's something that we all can take for granted. Having lost a friend to cancer at the young age of 18, this book has a special place in my heart. Now I'm going to go hug everyone I love, and maybe even some people that I don't :)

Very glad to have read this.

This is honestly one of the best and most memorable books I have ever read. So incredibly sad and difficult to read but beautiful at the same time. I can't get it out of my head. It is so well written! I just can't say enough about this to fully express how good and true to life it is. You really don't want to miss this one!